Influence of the organic cation disorder on photoconductivity in ethylenediammonium lead iodide, NH3CH2CH2NH3PbI4

Abstract

We report the synthesis and crystal structure of an organic inorganic compound, ethylenediammonium lead iodide, NH3CH2CH2NH3PbI4. Synchrotron based single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments revealed that the pristine and thermally treated crystals differ in the organic cation behaviour, which is characterized by a partial disorder in the thermally treated crystal. Based on current voltage measurements, increased disorder of the organic cation is associated with enhanced photoconductivity. This compound could be a potential candidate for interface engineering in lead halide perovskite-based optoelectronic devices.